SAN FRANCISCO — A growing gasp went through the arena Wednesday night as Valkyries forward Gabby Williams launched an open 3 from the top of the arc. That would cut Golden State’s lead to six with just under six minutes remaining and send the Chase Center into a frenzy.
But Williams’ shot bounced high off the rim and into the hands of Minnesota point guard Olivia Miles, setting off a sequence that illustrated the final death of the Valkyries by Reese. With a 9-point lead and the ball, Miles dribbled down the court, chased by Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, then changed gears as she headed for the paint. Then, suddenly, she swung the ball around her back and changed direction.
Salaun stretched out, rolled her ankle after stepping on the foot of Lynx center Natasha Howard. As Salaün limped, Miles retreated behind the 3-point line, using the separation like an estranged spouse. She set her feet, aligned the seams and launched the 3rd.
Williams missed her momentum 3. Miles, the WNBA’s brightest new star, did not.
Olivia Miles helps the Lynx improve to 9-0 all-time against the Waltz – but leaves early
About a minute later, Miles left the game after twisting her left ankle. While on defense, she stepped on teammate Napheese Collier’s leg and hobbled to the sideline, where she remained down for several minutes. She reached the bench with her own strength, where she sat for the final 4:37.
Miles, still limping, was well enough to appear in the crowd at Minnesota’s postgame press conference. She even popped the question to Kayla McBride.
“What made you celebrate ‘Night Night’ after those last 3,” Miles asked from a seat in the front row for the media.
“Stephen Curry is my favorite player,” McBride replied.
Minnesota was clearly thrilled with its ownership of Golden State, which went on to win 77-66. The Lynx, a WNBA-best 30-7, have championship aspirations but still have time to deliver a regular-season smoke to a Valkyries team that claims to be on their level. The Valkyries, 0-3 against the Lynx in 2026 and 0-9 all-time, remain frustrated by this hurdle they can’t clear.
Minnesota’s top talent continues to overwhelm the Valkyries’ depth, whose success at the rim doesn’t seem to work against the Lynx’s magic. Rhys, strengthened by the addition of Miles, once again castigated the Valkyries as a sister simply too big, too strong and too confident.
NIGHT NIGHT. 💤 pic.twitter.com/bwEePm6qJZ
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) August 20, 2026
The long-term answer for Golden State figures to get their star. No doubt the front office would be eager to pursue Collier if the pending free agent decides to leave Minnesota.
But that does nothing to ease the discomfort of this latest loss and this current context. In the past, the Valkyries have played Minnesota well enough to believe they can win. Their rally on Wednesday was strong enough to sustain that belief.
Still, the answers remain elusive enough that Golden State coach Natalie Nakase is blaming herself for not yet finding new answers for this opponent.
“I’m not pushing the right buttons,” said Nakase, whose team will travel to Minneapolis to close out the season series on Monday. “I don’t prepare them enough mentally. They go through mental lapses that I don’t understand. So I have to do better.”
The loss puts the Valkyries, who have nine games remaining in the regular season, four games behind the Lynx in the standings while surrendering the tiebreaker. Golden State’s chances for the first seed are fleeting.
The Valkyries (25-10) are much closer to the No. 3 Indiana Fever (24-12). Perhaps more important than the standings, however, is how they measured up against the class of the WNBA. They have proven that they are too good to be dismissed as a sweet story. But Wednesday provided an opportunity for them to confirm their place among the elite.
“That’s probably the worst they’ll ever see us,” said Tiffany Hayes, a veteran Valkyrie.
Indeed, they rose to second place in relative anonymity, overshadowed by the league’s explosive mix of passion, politics and personality. While Golden State dominated in defense, superstars and controversy dominated the headlines. The WNBA is enjoying unprecedented attention. Still, the Valkyries have somehow managed to slip under the radar despite their high rise in the standings.
But the Lynx made sure Golden State stayed there. At least for now. They treated the Valkyries so thoroughly.
The Valkyries played the first half as a team with nerves. Their third lowest score of the season at home suggests they have felt the weight of expectation. It took 20 minutes for them to find their steel after running into the rigidity of an undisturbed opponent.
They were able to cut a 22 point lead to 7 in the fourth quarter. But the Lynx reignited concerns about Golden State’s championship viability with a display of glory the Valkyries couldn’t match.
Courage, defense and a diverse offensive attack put the Valkyries on Minnesota’s heels in the standings and put them within striking distance in a resilient second half. But, as always seems to be the case against Minnesota, Golden State is no match for the stars.
“There’s a mental focus and competitiveness that needs to show,” Veronica Burton said after 14 points, 7 assists and 4 steals in 36 minutes.
“And, yeah, they hit some great shots. They hit some tough shots. But we can’t afford to repeat the same thing about our starts. … This was a really important game. We know that. So we have to act like it when we go out, and hold each other accountable. And we will, but it’s a sense of urgency before Game 22 starts to come down.”
A loaded Lynx puts four players on the field that can nullify a great defense. Miles, Collier and McBride combined for 58 points on 19-of-35 shooting. This allowed Courtney Williams, a former Valkyrie assassin, to spend a cold night.
These three made it 😤
Olivia Miles, Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier combined for 58 off @minnesotalynx‘s 77 PTS in their win over the Valks.
Miles invested 20 PTS, 7 AST, 5 REB, 3 3PM, 2 STL & 2 BLKS. She also moved up two spots on the all-time rookie list in… pic.twitter.com/wnCMzc3Wnm
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 20, 2026
Meanwhile, Gabby Williams and Cecilia Zandalasini combined for 18 points on 7-of-30 shooting, including 2-of-16 from deep. Williams — the Valkyries’ lone All-Star and their most dominant player — had one of her worst offensive performances of the season.
As a result, Golden State’s ball movement and 3-point shooting (7 of 37) looked impotent in the playoff atmosphere in Ballhalla. And Nakase is left to task herself with squeezing more out of her group.
“For me,” she said, “I have to figure out how to push the players that didn’t show up. I have to get inside them. I have to talk to them. … I understand the reality of the outside noise. I have to understand my players.”
This latest loss to Minnesota doesn’t remove Golden State from its lofty perch. One bad match does not disqualify a candidate. Minnesota and the Las Vegas Aces are the only teams the Valkyries haven’t beaten.
If Golden State holds the No. 2 seed, they won’t face Minnesota until the WNBA Finals. But the Valkyries’ struggles against the Lynx (and the Aces) point to a problem that should be revived in the postseason: Both teams have superstars to close games and the kind of talent that can bypass Golden State’s size style.
Golden State has earned the right to be discussed alongside the better WNBA teams. But it still falls within the gap between credible threat and genuine contender. Fortunately for the Valkyries, they still have time – and lynx to use as motivation.
